Black Country GP found GUILTY of 10 sex attacks on female patients

A doctor has been found guilty of TEN sexual assaults on female patients at his surgery.

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Dr Jaswant Rathore

Shamed GP Dr Jaswant Rathore faces a long sentence for the 10 sexual assaults on four patients by a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court – including on women who had complained of stomach pain, back pain and hayfever.

The jury found the 60-year-old GP, from Wall Heath, not guilty of eight sexual assaults on four other patients.

Rathore was accused of carrying out unnecessary treatments to satisfy his own lust.

He had denied touching any of the eight complainants inappropriately during the seven-week trial.

Rathore served as a GP in Dudley for nearly 30 years and used his influence to persuade women to undergo ‘manual manipulation therapies’ using massage, which enabled him to assault the women for his own gratification.

He molested the women during one-to-one consultations, with no chaperone present, and touched himself inappropriately during some of the visits, leaving his victims traumatised.

Missed appointments were met by the unusual practice of Rathore calling to ask where his patients were or to remind them of forthcoming appointments.

Police were called to investigate after a woman complained of sexual assault in May 2015, after she went to Rathore suffering with a hip problem.

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More complaints soon came to light and the doctor was arrested in May 2015 and then again in January 2017 after further complaints.

Rathore claimed his intimate massages on some patients, which he conducted without wearing surgical gloves, were medically justified, but insisted others were making up their accounts.

Judge Michael Challinor rejected a plea that the defendant's bail be extended overnight and remanded him in custody, saying: "We know the nature of the sentence and don't want there to be any difficulties."

He warned Rathore he will face 'a significant sentence'.

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The GP will be sentenced tomorrow.

WATCH: Detective appeals to sexual assault victims

Dudley GP Jaswant Rathore guilty of sex offences

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, who led the West Midlands Police investigation, said: “Rathore was a respected and experienced doctor who abused his position of trust to assault these women when they were at their most vulnerable.

“Women who’ve suffered at his hands were left questioning ‘did that really happen’ and speculating ‘perhaps it was medically justified’ as they couldn’t believe a doctor would act in such a manner.

“We know there were also concerns amongst some patients that they wouldn’t be taken seriously and that their word wouldn’t be believed against those of a medical expert.

“Well we believed them… and I would like to thank the women who were brave enough to report him and stop other women potentially suffering at his hands."

Prosecutor Ian Pinkney added: "Dr Jaswant Rathore abused his position of trust to carry out a series of sexual assaults against a number of his female patients.

“He preyed on women who contacted him for medical assistance, but rather than offer them help, he assaulted them for his own sexual gratification.

“The defendant did not have the relevant skills, techniques and training to perform the therapy which he was offering, nor did he provide the necessary safeguards to the victims when he conducted the manipulations.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victims for their courage in helping the prosecution team to bring this sexual predator to justice.”